Author's Notes: This is RSBI's Christmas fic for 2004. This one came about when my co-workers and I tried to arrange a secret santa for Christmas in 2004. I've only made very minor edits.
This one is also on my Gourry/Sylphiel Shrine: relm . bravepages . com (remove the spaces for the link)
Secret Santa
Part One, The Joy of Giving
By Relm
Lina opened her present with glee since hers was the biggest of all the presents. She tore off all the wrapping paper to reveal a box. 'I wonder what it is…' She opened the box to reveal… another wrapped box. Lina frowned. 'This had better not be one of those box in a box in box presents that end up being super small.'
But it was.
Several layers of cardboard and wrapping paper later Lina finally came down to what she hoped was the very last box. It was super tiny and super light. Slowly she opened the tiny package and finally saw what her gift was. A thin piece of paper that read 1,000 gold coins have been donated to an orphanage in your name, Happy Solstice!
'Damnit! Why did Amelia have to pick my name for?' Lina mentally cursed while trying to keep the strained smile on her face.
"So Miss Lina do you like it?" Amelia beamed very proud of herself.
'Must resist urge to maim…'
...
Days earlier…
"You wanna do what?" Lina asked in an unenthusiastic voice.
"Exchange solstice gifts! C'mon don't you think it's fate that all of us just happened to meet up at this very town around winter solstice?" Amelia gushed with stars in her eyes.
Both Zelgadis and Lina grumbled.
True it was close to winter solstice and by some freak accident Zelgadis, Lina, Amelia, Gourry and Sylphiel had ended up in the busy town of Snoland.
"I don't know Miss Lina it could be fun." Sylphiel commented in a far off voice. She herself was already in daydream land thinking of merry solstices of winter past.
"And expensive! I don't know about you but I don't exactly have a lot of money right now." Zelgadis huffed. Was that true? Mostly. But Zelgadis had always hated solstice. But growing up without your family always made the holidays suck. "And what are you guys doing in this town anyway? Why aren't you home with your families?" He chided huffed that he was being interrupted in his latest lead to cure his condition.
"Well the holidays are always bad for those whom are poor so I'm spending my solstice giving to needy!" Amelia declared as she threw a bag of coins in the town square.
Like pigeons to freshly fallen feed villagers scampered to the ground to grab the loose coins.
Lina and Zelgadis both sweatdropped.
"What about you Sylphiel?"
"Well I thought it might be fun to do some traveling. Solstice is kind of depressing at my aunt and uncle's place without my dad." Sylphiel let out a sad sigh.
An uncomfortable silence fall upon them. For a long while no one knew what do say.
"How about you Miss Lina? Why are you and Gourry-dear in Snoland?" Sylphiel asked breaking the silence.
"We were tracking some treasure that was supposed to be in an area near here. But that was a bust so we came here to stay the night." Lina explained.
"But why aren't you home with your family?"
An image of Luna filled Lina's head and she shuddered. "Let's just say I have my reasons."
"Gourry-dear why aren't you home with your family?"
Gourry frowned in thought for a good while. "Why would I be at home?"
"Winter Solstice? Don't you celebrate that?"
"Hmmm… I don't remember. But there is a reason why I don't want to go home."
"Why?"
"Jinny would hit me." Gourry answered nodding his head.
Instead of asking who Jinny was everyone just looked at him strangely.
"I guess you're here looking for a cure." Lina stated more then asked to Zelgadis.
Zelgadis nodded.
"I'm in a similar situation as Zel, I don't have enough money to get gifts for everyone." Lina mused lying through her teeth. She had money, lots of it but she was just cheap and didn't want to spend it on gifts. She just hoped that Gourry didn't dumbly break her cover.
"Why don't we do a secret santa?" Xellos suggested floating in the air above them.
"Xellos? When the hell did you get here? And why are you here?" Zelgadis growled.
"Mister Xellos what's a secret santa?" Amelia asked ignoring Zelgadis' outburst.
"Well there are different ways of doing it but basically everyone puts their names in a hat or something and we all draw names from it. Whomever name you get you get a gift for them and no one else. That way everyone gets one gift."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea!" Sylphiel clapped in excitement. "But what if you pick your own name?"
"We have to re-draw then."
"And you keep it a secret till you give the gift?"
"Well you could sign it from your secret santa or sign your name, but yes you don't tell anyone whom you have."
"Let's do that!" Amelia declared.
"Good because I've already got the names ready." Xellos announced pulling out a spiffy top hat with little folded pieces of paper in it.
"There's six names in there." Zelgadis stated dryly.
"Yes."
"You put your name in there too?"
"C'mon Mister Zelgadis! We can't not include Mister Xellos!" Amelia chided.
"He's a monster!"
"He's still a person."
Zelgadis waved up his hands in the air in defeat. "Alright, alright! Let's just draw the damn names. He probably rigged the damn thing." He muttered under his breath.
Everyone reached in a pulled out a name.
"Should we have a spending limit?" Sylphiel asked before looking at her paper.
"Yes we should. I say we should spend at least 15 silver pieces on our gifts." Amelia declared.
Everyone nodded in agreement and they all started to unfold the papers.
"I still think it's rigged." Zelgadis muttered still trying to unfold his paper. It seems that Xellos had folded the little pieces of paper so much that it was almost impossible to unfold them without tearing the paper.
"Well it isn't rigged Mister Zelgadis." Amelia commented. The name on her piece of paper read Lina. 'I would have preferred to get Mister Zelgadis but I'm sure I can find the perfect gift for Miss Lina.'
"I guess that means Miss Amelia doesn't have my name. But really we're supposed to keep whom we have a secret." Xellos chided waving a finger at Amelia.
Amelia covered her mouth. "Opps! I'm sorry!"
"I wouldn't worry about it too much Amelia. As long as we keep the names secret and not let any other information slide." Sylphiel consoled Amelia. She looked at the name she picked and was disappointed to see that she had Amelia's name. 'Darn! I wanted to get Gourry-dear's name. Maybe I can trade someone…'
Zelgadis took a look at the one he had. Xellos. 'Damn him he did rig it!' Zelgadis thought seething anger.
Xellos inwardly grinned. 'Looks like Zelgadis picked my name. How fortunate, and I didn't even need to do a thing.' He took a peek at his choice. Gourry. He spied a look at Sylphiel and noted the discontent. 'This will be fun.'
Lina mentally cursed when she say whose name she happened to pull from the hat. Zelgadis. 'What the heck am I going to get him? Gee how lucky I am picking the hardest person to shop for. Maybe someone has their own name and we'll have to re-draw.' She hoped.
Gourry was the last one to check his paper. To his surprise he had chosen Sylphiel. 'What am I going to get her? She's so nice and kind I have to get her something good!' He mentally declared. 'Maybe she'll like some new pots so that she'll cook something good. Mmmm… meat stew.' A faraway smile graced his lips as he began day dreaming of wonderful food.
"Did anyone draw their own name?" Xellos asked once everyone had a chance to read their papers.
Everyone collectively shook their heads.
"Good! Then happy shopping everyone!" Xellos phased off before anyone could say anything.
"Wow he was quick to leave." Lina mused.
"Maybe he was rushing to get the present he wants to give. He could be afraid they will be all sold out if he doesn't get there in time." Amelia optimistically suggested.
Lina and Zelgadis both looked at each other and shook their heads.
"But we should get going too." Sylphiel pointed out all the people busily buying out all the nearby shops.
"Sure let's go! Remember everyone gifts must be no less than 15 silver pieces!" Amelia cheered before charging off to the nearby store pushing her way past many people.
Everyone sweatdropped.
...
Sylphiel looked at an adorably cute stuffed bunny while shopping in a toy store. 'I suppose Amelia would like that. It is cute.' She let out a sigh. Though she had been tempted to go and find out who had Gourry's name and try and switch, she didn't do it. She picked Amelia's name and that was the person she was going to shop for.
"Having trouble finding something?" Xellos asked appearing right in front of her.
Sylphiel gasped startled by Xellos' sudden appearance. "Oh my Mister Xellos you scared me!"
"I'm sorry Miss Sylphiel. I didn't intend to."
"It's alright. And to answer your question I'm having a little bit of trouble trying to decide on what to get." Sylphiel sighed idly poking a toy bear. She looked back to the bunnies she had been looking at and noticed they were all gone. She looked to the bear she had been poking and that was gone too. "This is madness! They're grabbing everything!" Sylphiel commented in awe as parents actually fought over items in the toy store.
"It is. Though tell me Miss Sylphiel is the person you picked hard to shop for?"
"No, not really. I guess I just can't get into the spirit of shopping."
"Perhaps if you had a different person it would be easier." He 'accidentally' dropped the piece of paper that had Gourry's name on it.
Sylphiel picked up the name and gasped. "You picked Gourry-dear's name?" She exclaimed.
"Oh my, did I drop that?" Xellos casually took the paper back from Sylphiel.
Sylphiel bit her bottom lip thinking. 'Should I ask him if he wants to switch with me?'
"He's not the easiest person to buy for I must say." Xellos commented with a grin seeing the wheels turning in her head.
Sylphiel wanted to ask but she refrained from doing so. 'No I can't, that's not the way the secret santa works. That would be cheating.'
"I tell you if I had someone else I'm sure I would have no problems at all shopping." Xellos hinted.
Sylphiel didn't say anything.
"Like perhaps if someone was willing to trade with me?" Xellos grinned.
But still Sylphiel failed to say anything.
"Would you be willing to switch with me Miss Sylphiel?" He finally came out and said.
Sylphiel shook her head. "No I couldn't. You picked his name not me and it wouldn't be right. Thank you for the offer Mister Xellos but I can't."
"Are you sure? I really don't mind switching you know." Xellos dangled the scrap of paper in front of her.
Sylphiel violently shook her head. "No thank you Mister Xellos."
"Alright then I'll leave you to your shopping." He gave her a nod and phased off.
Sylphiel sighed already regretting her decision. 'Oh well back to shopping.' She looked around noticing that there was next to nothing left to buy in the little toy store. 'Well to the next store it is.'
...
Lina walked around the magic shop with a frown plastered to her face. Since magic items weren't exactly the first thing on a person's gift list the shop wasn't that terribly busy. Even though Lina wasn't fighting for items like the others that wasn't making her job easier.
'Damn Zel, you have to be so picky. I'm much easier to buy for. Just give me money and I'm happy. But him? Noooo… It's not like I'm going to find his cure here.'
"Are you trying to find something for your special someone?" A male salesclerk asked Lina popping up out of nowhere.
Lina jumped. "What the hell are you doing snaking up on customers like that! It's no wonder this place is dead." Lina grumbled.
The salesclerk's smile became strained. "I'm sorry Miss. I didn't mean to scare you. Do you need any help?"
"What do you get someone who is the pickiest person in the world?" Lina asked rhetorically.
"Well perhaps you'd be interested in this crystal ball." The salesclerk showed her a very pretty crystal ball that rested on a pewter stand shaped like a dragon with emerald eyes.
"I want a real gift, not some cheap thing for rank amateur sorcerers." Lina commented flatly.
"Oh so your special someone is a well rounded magic user huh?"
"Yes he's into magic and he's not my special someone! I don't have a special someone." She spat out venomously.
"Okay then. What sort of magic is he into?"
"Well he specializes in shaman magic. Though he's constantly looking for something to cure himself."
"Cure himself? He's cursed?"
"Yes he's kinda a chimera. You don't happen to by chance have any chimera cures laying around here do you?" Lina asked with a sheepish grin.
The salesclerk's eyes widened in realization. He knew who the guy she was buying for. Hours earlier he had a customer looking for the exact same thing. 'That guy is who she's buying for. Wow that guys was such a stone face. Gee that might explain why's he's not involved with her. I doubt that guy has ever been on a date.' He thought with a smile. 'I think I know the perfect thing!' "I'm sorry Miss I don't have one. But I might have something that might be good." The salesclerk pulled out a box from a display case and handed it to Lina.
She took the box and opened it looking at the little amulet with curiosity.
"Sounds like your guy friend is lacking luck. This amulet attracts good luck to the wearer. Perhaps some good luck would help him find his cure faster?" The salesclerk suggested.
"That's interesting. But how much are you asking for it?"
"Fifty silver pieces."
"Ten." Lina countered.
"Fourty-five."
"Twelve."
"Fifteen."
"Thir- no wait fifteen is good." Lina laughed nervously. 'Almost forgot the spending limit.'
"Alright. I hope he likes it."
"Thanks."
The salesclerk grinned as Lina left the store. 'Oh yeah he'll like the gift. And he's going to be very happy with you getting it for him.' He inwardly chuckled.
...
Amelia giggled in childish delight. 'Miss Lina is going to love this!' She thought as she handed 1,000 gold coins to the Snoland Orphanage.
"Thank you so much Miss! You're very kind!" The orphanage director thanked her with glee.
"Don't thank me. Thank Miss Lina Inverse, I am only delivering the money on behalf of her!"
"Well you'll have to give her our thanks then!"
"I will, Happy Solstice!" Amelia waved walking back outside. 'Miss Lina will be so happy! Her reputation isn't going to be bad here!'
...
Zelgadis grumbled as he walked the snowy streets of the outdoor market. He didn't like all the merry people singing carols no more than the fact that he had to buy a gift for someone he hated.
'Why the heck did I end up with his name for? I know he rigged it. I know he did.' Zelgadis thought scowling as he got pushed by a person behind him.
"Get out of my way!" The person yelled as he and many others ran towards this one booth as it opened.
"What the heck is so special that everyone is fighting to buy it first?" Zelgadis wondered out loud.
"Why just the hottest new toy on the market. That vendor is the only one selling it in this town." A nearby merchant answered Zelgadis' question in a bitter voice.
Zelgadis looked at the person talking to him. It was an old man selling strangely cute smiling coloured teddy bears with symbols on their tummies. "You don't sound too happy about that."
"Before that vendor opened up shop in this town my booth was the most popular in the market. But since that new toy came out all the kiddies want that for solstice." The merchant snorted.
Zelgadis tried to get a look at the hot new toy but he couldn't see over the growing crowd in front of the booth. "What about you though? What toy are you selling?"
"Care-bears*."
Zelgadis snapped his head back to the vendor's merchandise. "Care-whats?"
"Care-bears. Little cute cuddly bears that love everyone they meet. Each bear has a special character quirk and story. They're perfect for teaching morals to the little ones."
Zelgadis frowned. "They love everyone they meet?"
"Yeah well mine are a little special then the ones you find in other towns. They actually come to life and hug their owners."
"How?"
"Little magic charm built into the symbols on their tummies. They don't move all the time, just when their owner is near."
"What do they do if their owner ignores them and won't let it hug them?" Zelgadis asked with a raised eyebrow.
"They'll run after their owner till they get a hug."
Zelgadis suppressed a giggle. He spied a cute cuddly pink one with hearts on its' tummy. "What's that one?"
"Ahhh! That's Love-a-lot bear*. She's the most loveable of them all. And she always lets you know she loves you by telling you that when she goes to hug you."
Zelgadis roared with laughter. "I have to get that bear. I know someone who would just love it! How much is it?"
"Forty silver pieces."
"Deal." 'This is worth the extra money.' Zelgadis mentally snickered as he handed the merchant the money. "Happy Solstice." He smiled humming a solstice tune.
"Wow what a nice young man." The merchant grinned.
...
Gourry scratched his head while trying to figure out what to get Sylphiel for solstice. He had looked at baking stuff but decided against it. Why? Because while looking at some nice pots he heard a lady talking very loudly to her husband that a real girl doesn't want kitchen utensils for solstice. She wants something special not just practical. Gourry knew he shouldn't have been listening in to their conversation but he was having a real problem trying to figure out what to give Sylphiel. He didn't know what to get a girl.
'Gee this is harder than I thought.' Gourry sighed looking at some glass statues. He looked over to a pretty woman looking at something nearby. 'Hmm… she looks like she's Sylphiel's age.' "Miss can I ask you a question?"
The woman looked at him startled. "Um, sure. What did you want to ask?"
"What sort of thing would a girl your age like as a solstice gift?"
The woman grinned. "Having trouble shopping huh? So is it a sister or a special someone?"
"Well Sylphiel is not my sister but she is pretty special." Gourry smiled a goofy grin while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Aren't you sweet? Well girls like candy, flowers and lots of pretty things. But what you buy all depends on how much you like the girl."
"I like Sylphiel a lot she's real nice and kind. Any guy would be lucky to have her as a wife."
"Your gift should convey how much you like her. Like if you like the girl candy would be good. But if you really like the girl a lot jewellery or something sentimental is the best way to go."
Gourry thought about it for a moment. "I think I know what I want to get her now. Thanks!"
"Glad I could help."
Gourry went straight to a cute white teddy bear that he had seen earlier. He picked up the little bear carefully examining it. It was an average sized teddy bear with white fur that seemed to be dusted with silver. It wore a silver knitted snowflake print sweater that had a big red heart in the middle.
The bear was beautiful but was the only one left out of all the bears in the store. All the others had been bought long ago. This bear had been forgotten and left behind by all the other customers. No one wanted it. Why? Because the bear's left eye was missing and the sweater was ripped. No doubt the bear had been damaged in the holiday rush.
Gourry grinned. 'Sylphiel wouldn't want him to be thrown out. I know she'd want to give him a nice home.' He went over to the desk to pay. "Hi I'd like to buy this." He said cheerily to the salesclerk.
The lady looked at him strangely. "You want to buy the broken bear?"
"Yup." Gourry said grinning.
"Are you giving this as a gift to someone?"
Gourry nodded.
"You can't give this to someone."
"Why not?"
"Because it's broken. Here why don't you get this instead?" The salesclerk took Gourry over to another counter. "Why don't you get one of these?" She showed him an assortment of necklaces and earrings.
Gourry frowned and looked at each piece very carefully. "I don't know. These are kinda flashy." He looked some more till he saw a small simple silver heart locket on a simple silver chain. "Ooooh! That one! That's perfect."
"Do you want a box for it?"
"Sure a big one."
"For the necklace?"
"No for the bear." Gourry pointed to the bear he still had.
"Why? I thought you're going to get the necklace."
Gourry nodded. "Yup that's right. I'm going to put the necklace around the bear's neck."
"You still want the bear?"
Gourry nodded again. He was starting to get a little irritated. 'Why is she asking so many questions for?'
"Why do you want the bear for?"
"Why not?"
The salesclerk let out a sigh. "Alright then I'll get a box. The total cost is 100 silver pieces."
"Alright here you go." Gourry handed the lady the money and she in return handed him his purchase. "Happy Solstice." Gourry walked around of the store very pleased with himself.
"That guy is nuts." The salesclerk muttered shaking her head.
...
Hours later Lina and company all met up in the town inn in front of the fireplace.
"Does everyone have their gifts?" Amelia asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Alright then everyone close your eyes and place your present over there." Amelia pointed to a spot of the floor. "And remember no peaking."
Everyone did as told and place their respective gifts on the floor.
"Okay everyone open your eyes."
Lina was the first to open her eyes and she squealed with delight at the sheer size the present with her name on it. "Yippe!"
Everyone grabbed their own respective present and began to unwrap them.
Lina finally tore through all the layers to reveal the piece of paper with the message that money was donated in her name.
"So Miss Lina do you like it?" Amelia asked her with notable pride in her voice.
Lina strained a smile. "Yes Amelia I love it. Thank you." She gritted her teeth.
"How did you know it was me that sent it?" Amelia squeaked.
Lina just rolled her eyes.
Xellos silently snickered as he watched Gourry open his present. 'I'm sure Gourry will just love the present I got him. Hee hee!'
Gourry pulled out the wax food grinning. "Yeah food!" He then proceeded to eat the said wax food.
Xellos grinned like a cashmere cat waiting for Gourry's disgusted reaction.
But Gourry didn't spit out the wax in disgust. He ate the whole thing and grinned. "That was great!" He beamed.
Xellos blinked in confusion. 'What?'
Sylphiel gasped when she opened her sadly wrapped present. "Oh my god!"
Amelia and Lina rushed over to see what Sylphiel was exclaiming about.
"It's cute, but where's its' eye?" Lina poked the bear where its' left eye should be.
"Miss Lina!" Amelia swatted her hand away. "That's disrespectful."
"It's a stuffed animal Amelia, not a person."
"I can't believe I got this bear! I saw it in one of the shops I was in. It looked all sad and lonely sitting there all by itself. I wanted to buy it for myself and I was going to come back and get it after I bought my solstice for my secret santa gift. But when I got back to the store it was gone! I was afraid that someone threw it out because it was broken." Sylphiel hugged the little bear with tears forming in her eyes. "This is the best gift ever! Oh… what's this?" It was then that she noticed the little silver heart pendant. "That is so pretty!"
Gourry grinned triumphantly. 'I knew she'd like it!'
"Hey Xellos what did you get?" Zelgadis asked suppressing a grin.
Xellos frowned at the chimera. He knew who was his secret santa and by the smug look on Zelgadis' face Xellos was sure there was something wrong with the gift. Carefully he opened the box.
A pink teddy bear with hearts on its' belly rose from the box and gave Xellos a big hug. "I love you!" The bear murmured happily.
"AHHHHH!" Xellos flung the cursed object away from him. But the bear persisted and started chasing Xellos around.
"Mister Xellos why are you running for? It just wants to hug you." Amelia tried to calm the monster but he was freaked out beyond all control.
Lina and Zelgadis however were rolling around the floor laughing.
"Really Mister Zelgadis, Miss Lina you shouldn't be laughing at poor Mister Xellos' misfortune." Amelia chided while finally opening her present. It was an old book on the morals and teachings of Sanly the Pacifist. "OH MY GOD! I've always wanted this book! Thank you whoever gave me this!" She hugged the gift with joy.
Sylphiel giggled. "Mister Zelgadis aren't you going to open yours?" She inquired.
Zelgadis stopped laughed and looked around. Everyone had opened their gifts except him. "Okay then." His present was the smallest of them all (before Lina had opened up hers that is). It wasn't wrapped in the most exciting of paper but it was wrapped neatly. Under the paper was an old velvet box that contained a small red amulet. A small piece of paper had been slipped in that read 'Wear for good luck.' Zelgadis shrugged and put it on. Immediately he was washed with a strange feeling that charged him from head to toe. His gaze immediately snapped to Lina whom was looking at him with curiosity.
"You like it?"
"I love it. But not as much as I love you Lina Inverse." Zelgadis stated very calmly taking her hand.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared.
"Marry me?" He asked with hearts in his eyes.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?" Lina screeched snapping her hand away blushing bright red like a tomato.
...
The salesclerk from the magic shop chuckled thinking about the customers he had that day as he closed shop. 'Well that red head must have given that guy that amulet by now. Maybe I should have told her it was cursed with a love spell? Nah. Oh well that doesn't matter. Though it should spice up their lives a bit.' He laughed evilly.
* Carebears and Love-a-Lot Bear are trademarks of American Greetings Corporation.